1 John 1:5 – This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. (NKJV)

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder — SAD. I am a different person on a sunny day than I am on a dull dreary day. I never cease to be amazed at how I can change so quickly on a day that starts out dull and grey and then the sun comes out!

SAD is described as episodes of depression that occur every year during fall or winter. Symptoms include:

increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness (feeling like a desire to hibernate)

lack of energy and loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities

social withdrawal

anxiety

increased appetite with weight gain

These symptoms improve in spring and summer. Light therapy using a special lamp with a very bright fluorescent light to mimic light from the sun often proves helpful.

As I sit here in my chair at 6:00 a.m. and enjoy the early daylight hours, I realize how much I appreciate the longer days. I really don't like the darkness and the time when the days are so short or the grey days when there is no sunshine. Many times as I sit here and begin my day with God, the sun rises and shines in the very spot where I am sitting!

Where there is darkness, there is sin. God hates sin. It makes Him SAD! When Jesus died on the cross and took our sin upon Himself, He said to the Father, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" God had turned His face away because He couldn't look upon the sin — our sin — that Jesus was carrying upon Himself for us.

To have fellowship with God, we must walk in the light. When we walk in the light, we will see our sins in the light of God's Word and respond by asking for forgiveness of our sins. When we walk in the light, others will see Christ in us by the way that we live. We, as Christians, are called to be light in this dark world. In Matthew 5:16 it says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father in heaven." (NKJV) The way we live our lives can cause others to glorify God. As the popular children's hymn says, "In this world of darkness, so we must shine, you in your small corner, and I in mine."

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (NKJV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for calling us out of the darkness and into Your marvellous light. Help us to be a light to those who walk in darkness and to show Your love to those around us as we seek to live for You and follow You every day of our lives. Forgive us when we think only of ourselves and neglect those around us who are in need or hurting. Shine Your light upon us each day that we may glorify You in all that we say and do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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Thought for Today

Don't forget that even when God is silent, He is still doing something for us.

Verse for Today

John 6:20-21 – [Jesus] said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (NIV)